owun

Ede Idaca

Etymology

Older form for the term salt only found in Eastern Yoruba dialects. See Igala ómu, Ifè oŋu, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-ɓũ. The form likely referred to an indigenous salt, perhaps related to rock salt or halite, which was later replaced by salt imported from the North. The existence of this term in Ede Idaca suggests that it existed in Proto-Yoruba and not just Proto-Edekiri, and also may suggest that the Ede group of languages (including Ede Ife and Idaca) split before the Northwest and Central Yoruba dialects split.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ō.wũ/

Noun

owun

1. salt

Gun

Alternative forms

• wùn

Etymology

From Proto-Gbe *-wũ. Cognates include Fon wùn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ō.wũ̀/

Noun

owùn (plural owùn lɛ́ or owùn lẹ́)

1. thorn

Olukumi

Etymology

Compare with Igala ómu, Ifè oŋu, Ede Idaca owun, Northeast Yoruba oghun, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-ɓũ. Olukumi and Northeast Yoruba are the only descendants of Proto-Yoruba that retain this term

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ó.wṹ/

Noun

ówún

1. salt

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• òun

Etymology

Cognate with Yoruba òun, Igala òñwù

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ò.wũ̄/

Pronoun

òwun

1. (Ijebu) she/he/it (emphatic third-person singular personal pronoun)

See also